President Lee Jae-myung visited Busan and Gyeongnam over two consecutive days [2] to promote the development of South Korea's southeast region.
The visits signal a strategic push to transform the southeast into a maritime powerhouse, linking national security interests with regional economic growth.
During the trip, which concluded on Wednesday, May 27, Lee attended the Sea Day ceremony and toured the Jagalchi traditional market in Busan [1]. He also traveled to Changwon in Gyeongnam province, where he received a formal briefing on a project to develop nuclear-propulsion submarines [2].
Lee invoked the legacy of former President Kim Young-sam, emphasizing a commitment to the maritime vision established by his predecessor. He said the government would accelerate the leap toward a maritime powerhouse, a goal once dreamed of by Kim.
"The people's sovereign government will accelerate the vigorous leap toward the Republic of Korea as a maritime powerhouse that President Kim Young-sam dreamed of," Lee said [1].
While the administration focused on infrastructure and defense, the trip drew criticism from political opponents. Lee said that the vision of a true maritime power would be realized in the southeast region, including Busan [1].
However, the People Power Party criticized the timing and nature of the visits. The party said the activities constituted election interference [1].
This regional focus combines economic revitalization with a military upgrade, specifically through the nuclear-propulsion submarine initiative. By centering these projects in the southeast, the administration aims to secure both industrial growth and strategic naval capabilities in the region [2].
“"The people's sovereign government will accelerate the vigorous leap toward the Republic of Korea as a maritime powerhouse."”
By linking the development of advanced military technology, such as nuclear-propulsion submarines, with regional economic investment, President Lee is attempting to solidify a political and industrial base in the southeast. The invocation of Kim Young-sam's legacy serves to bridge current policy with historical national identity, though the accusations of election interference suggest that these regional visits are being viewed through a highly partisan lens.
